Closure device, particularly for sports shoes

Abstract: Closure device particularly for sports shoes including a shell (2) and a quarter (3) and provided with a first flap (4a,4b) and a second flap (5a,5b) to be secured or with straps to be tensioned and secured. The device includes grip elements (7) and at least one engagement element (12) which are associable respectively with the first flap and with the second flap, or with the shoe and with the band. The grip elements selectively and detachably interact with the engagement element by using an auxiliary lever (16). The device has low manufacturing costs, allowing to standardize the individual components and limiting protrusions with respect to the surfaces of the shoe.

Description: The present invention relates to a closure device particularly for sports shoes comprising a shell and/or at least one quarter provided with a first flap and a second flap to be secured, or with straps to be tensioned and secured. Various devices are currently known which allow to close a first flap and a second flap of sports shoe, such as for example a ski boot. Such devices are usually constituted by a lever that comprises a lever body which is pivoted transversely, at one end, at two shoulders that protrude from a base which is rigidly coupled to one of the flaps to be joined. Said lever body can have, at one of its surfaces, several teeth between which it is possible to engage for example the end of a ring the other end of which is rigidly coupled to the other flap to be joined. As an alternative, a ring may be pivoted transversely to the lever body, while the other end of the ring is selectively associated at a tooth of a rack which is rigidly coupled to the other flap to be joined. Devices are also known wherein the arm of the lever is essentially U-shaped, with a bar pivoted between its arms, and wherein a traction element, such as for example a cable, is associated with one end of said bar. The other end of the traction element is associated for example with a ring that selectively interacts with a rack. These and other conventional devices essentially have the drawback of being constituted by several components which increase their total cost, also bearing in mind the fact that for some shoes, such as for example ski boots or ice skates or roller skates, it is necessary to have multiple closure devices. In these last cases, it is also necessary to use closure devices which have components with slightly different dimensions, because during securing it is necessary to compensate for a varying amount of space between the flaps to be joined, and to avoid interference between the levers and the ground, in particular for the levers securing the shell portion of the boot. Therefore, in ski boots and skates, the use of levers at the toe area always entails closure difficulties, as the levers have rather small dimensions, to avoid protruding excessively outside the shell and the user can hardly grip them. Furthermore, in known closure devices the lever arms are subject to possible accidental impacts during sports practice which either damage the device or open it. Furthermore, the use of metal to manufacture these conventional closure devices increases the weight and total cost of the shoe. US-A-4 250 595 and US-A-3 902 226 both disclose tools for closing the previously described conventional boot closure devices including a lever body with teeth pivoted transversely to two protruding shoulders at one flap and a ring connected to the other flap. In particular, once the ring has been selectively positioned in one of the teeth of the lever body, the tools are engaged with the lever body to pivot it into its closed position. FR-A-2 005 481 discloses a ski boot closure device which includes a pair of mating sawtooth portions connected respectively to the flaps to be joined. The bottom point of a ski pole may be engaged with a protruding ring of the one of the sawtooth portions and pushed downwardly for moving it with respect to the other sawtooth portion for closure. The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the mentioned prior art by providing a device which allows to achieve optimum closure of two flaps or straps of a shoe for securing the foot or leg, at a low manufacturing cost. Within the scope of the above aim, an important object is to provide a device which allows to standardize the various components regardless of their location on the shoe. Another important object is to provide a device which allows the user to fasten the shoe with a simple and easy operation. Another object is to provide a closure device which does not break due to any accidental impacts during sports practice. Another object is to provide a device which does not open accidentally during sports practice. Another object is to provide a device which has an extremely limited protrusion with respect to the surfaces of the shoe. Another object is to provide a closure device which has a low weight. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a closure device particularly for sports shoes comprising a shell and at least one quarter provided with a first flap and a second flap to be secured or with a strap to be tensioned and secured, the closure device comprising grip elements, an auxiliary lever and at least one engagement element, said grip elements being associated with the first flap or with the sports shoes and selectively and detachably interact, by means of said auxiliary lever detachable from the sports shoe, with at least one engagement element being associated with the second flap or with the strap. The closure device is characterized in that the lever device comprises a pivoting lever arm and a traction element connected to the pivoting lever arm such that the traction element is engageable with the engagement element while simultaneously a pivoting action of the lever arm selectively enables the selection of one of a plurality of engagement positions between the grip and engagement elements. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a side view of a sports shoe having a closure device according to the invention, showing both the condition in which the flaps are secured and the condition in which the flaps are not secured; figure 2 is a lateral perspective view of the auxiliary lever; figure 3 is a view, similar to figure 1, of the use of the auxiliary lever to secure the first and second flaps; figure 4 is a transverse sectional view respectively of a grip element associated with the first flap and of a grip element associated with the second flap; figure 5 is a view, similar to figure 2, of the use of the auxiliary lever to disengage the grip element and the engagement element. With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a sports shoe, particularly a ski boot, which comprises at least one quarter 3 associated with a shell 2. The shell and the quarter have a first flap 4a, 4b and a second flap 5a, 5b to be joined. The closure device, generally designated by the reference numeral 6, is constituted by one or more grip elements, designated by the reference numeral 7, which are constituted by a base 8 which is attached, for example by means of a first rivet 9, proximate to the first flaps 4a and 4b, and on which multiple mutually parallel first seats 10 are provided transversely. A hole is formed at each one of said first seats 10 or, as an alternative, a first tab 11 protrudes thereat towards the facing surface of the first flaps 4a, 4b. The closure device 1 is also constituted by at least one engagement element, generally designated by the reference numeral 12, which is associated at the second flaps 5a, 5b for example by means of a second rivet 13. The engagement element is constituted by a pawl which has a first tooth 14 directed towards the first flaps 4a, 4b. The dimensions of the first tooth 14 are approximately equal to those of the first seats 10. On the opposite side with respect to the first tooth 14 there is, on the engagement element 12, a second tooth 15 which protrudes in the opposite direction with respect to the surface of the second flaps 5a, 5b. The closure device 6 also comprises an auxiliary lever 16 which is constituted by a lever arm 17 with which a traction element, such as a ring 18 that is temporarily engageable with the surface of the second tooth 15 at its free end, is associated in an intermediate position. Two shoulders 19a and 19b are transversely pivoted at one end of said lever arm 17 and protrude at right angles with respect to a freely movable wing 20 which is essentially L-shaped. The larger portion 21 of the wing 20 oscillates partially below the lever arm 17, and protrudes beyond the axis for pivoting to the arm. Portion 21 is also joined to a smaller portion 22 which is directed opposite with respect to the free end of said lever arm 17. The smaller portion 22 of the wing 20 forms a third tooth which can be selectively positioned at one of the first seats 10. The arms 23 of an essentially U-shaped plate 24 are pivoted to the lever arm 17 at the same axis on which the two shoulders 19a and 19b of the wing 20 are pivoted. The plate 24, too, is freely pivoted to the lever arm 17 and can oscillate with respect to it. The length of the arms 23 is such as to accommodate between them the part of the larger portion 21 of the wing 20 that lies below the lever arm, when the plate lies adjacent and below the lever arm. The use of the invention therefore entails that one or more grip elements 7, and a matching number of engagement elements 12, be respectively associated at the first and second flaps of the sports shoe, whereas it is sufficient to have a single auxiliary lever 16 available. The flaps are then secured in the following manner: initially the user grips the lever arm 17 of the auxiliary lever 16, making the ring 18 interact with the second tooth 15 and placing the smaller portion 22 of the wing 20 in one of the first seats 10 of the corresponding base 8. In doing so, he makes sure to arrange the plate 24 so that its arms 23 are directed towards the lever arm 17 and below it. The rotation of the lever arm 17 towards the first flaps subjects the engagement element 12 to traction, making the first tooth 14 interact, optionally in a ratchet-like fashion, with the various first seats 10 of the corresponding base 8. The arrangement of the auxiliary lever 16 is in fact such that it always pushes the first tooth 14 towards the base 8, and once the lever arm is released, the first tooth 14 allows mutual engagement of the two components at the seat 10 which corresponds to the intended degree of securing. This operation can be repeated for each one of the engagement elements 12. Once the flaps have been closed, the auxiliary lever can be easily stored in a pocket or in an adapted seat provided on the sports shoe. In order to mutually disengage the engagement element and the grip element, it is possible to reposition the lever arm as described above, with the difference that the plate 24 is arranged so that the base 25 that connects the arms 23 rests at the lateral surface of the first flaps 4a, 4b. In this way, a rotation of the lever arm 17 again causes traction of the engagement element 12, which however disengages from the first seats 10 due to the elasticity of the second flap which is no longer subjected to any load. It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a closure device having been obtained which has a low manufacturing cost since it is constituted by a single auxiliary lever and by highly simplified engagement and grip elements which can furthermore be standardized in their dimensions, so that they can be applied to any area of the sports shoe. The auxiliary lever 16 can also have such dimensions as to allow the easy tensioning and release of the engagement element, for example by providing an oversized lever arm 17. Once the flaps have been secured and the auxiliary lever 16 has been stored, the sports shoe features very limited protrusions with respect to the flaps; these protrusions are constituted only by the second tooth 15 of the engagement element, so as to eliminate at the same time any possibility of interference with the ground, the possibility of breakage of the various components, due to accidental impacts during sports practice, and any possibility of accidental opening due to such impacts. Because of the limited protrusion of its elements, the sports shoe therefore has a better performance and an improved aesthetical appearance. Finally, since the auxiliary lever can be stored temporarily, the closure device has an extremely limited weight that allows to lighten the sports shoe. The closure device according to the present invention is naturally susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept. Thus, for example, the base 8 may have a single seat 10 and the engagement element 12 may be provided with multiple first teeth 14. In this case, of course, the seat 10 protrudes with respect to the profile of the shoe instead of being recessed, and it is necessary to provide another seat on the boot for engagement with the smaller portion 22 of the auxiliary lever 16. The same device may also be used for straps suitable to secure the leg or the foot inside or outside the sports shoe. In this case the grip element is nonetheless provided on the shell or on the quarter, while the engagement element must be located at the end of the strap. Finally, in the same manner the materials, as well as the dimensions, that constitute the individual components of the device may also be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: Closure device, particularly for sports shoes comprising a shell (2) and at least one quarter (3) provided with a first flap (4a,4b) and a second flap (5a,5b) to be secured or with a strap to be tensioned and secured, the closure device comprising grip elements (7), an auxiliary lever (16) and at least one engagement element (12), said grip elements (7) being associated with said first flap or with said sports shoes and selectively and detachably interact, by means of said auxiliary lever (16) detachable from said sports shoe, with at least one engagement element (12) being associated with said second flap or with said strap, the closure device being characterized in that said auxiliary lever (16) comprises a pivoting lever arm (17) and a traction element (18) connected to said pivoting lever arm (17) such that said traction element (18) is engageable with said engagement element (12) while simultaneously a pivoting action of said lever arm selectively enables the selection of one of a plurality of engagement positions between said grip and engagement elements (7,12). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said grip elements comprises a base (8) which is associated proximate to said first flaps (4a,4b) or with said shoe, multiple mutually parallel first seats (10) being provided transversely on said base. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that a hole is formed at each one of said first seats (10). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that a first tab (11) protrudes towards the facing surface of said first flaps. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said engagement element (12) is constituted by a pawl which has a first tooth (14) directed towards said first flaps or said shoe. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the dimensions of said first tooth (14) are approximately equal to those of said first seats (10) of said base (8). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that a second tooth (15) is provided on the opposite side with respect to said first tooth (14) on said at least one engagement element (12), said second tooth protruding in the opposite direction with respect to the surface of said second flaps (5a,5b). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said traction element is in the form of a ring (18) which can temporarily engage the surface of said second tooth (15) at its free end and which is associated in an intermediate position with said lever arm (17). Device according to claim 8, characterized in that two shoulders (19a,19b) are pivoted transversely at one end of said lever arm (17) and protrude at right angles with respect to a freely movable wing (20) which is essentially L-shaped. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the larger portion (21) of said wing (20) oscillates partially below said lever arm (17), protrudes beyond the axis for pivoting to said lever arm, and is joined to a smaller portion (22) which is directed opposite to the free end of said lever arm (17). Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said smaller portion (22) of said wing (20) forms a third tooth which can be selectively located at one of said first seats. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the arms (23) of an essentially U-shaped plate (24) are freely pivoted to said lever arm (17) at the same axis on which said pair of shoulders (19a,19b) of said wing (20) is pivoted. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the length of said arms (23) is such as to accommodate, between them, the part of said larger portion (21) of said wing (20) that lies below said lever arm (17) when said plate lies adjacent and below said lever arm.

Inventors: BATTISTELLA MIRCO, FOSCARO GIANCARLO, BATTISTELLA, MIRCO, FOSCARO, GIANCARLO
Applicants: BENETTON SPORTSYSTEM SPA, BENETTON SPORTSYSTEM S.P.A.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A43C11
IPC codes: A43C11